Hi OzB brains trust,
I am going overseas for what's expected to be 2 years; would like to know if there are any cheap methods to retain my current mobile phone number until my return.
Thanks!
Mod note: As this is often a recurring topic, with users asking "What is the best long expiry SIM Plan to keep a number on?" this forum topic has now been pinned as a megathread & related topics have been merged.
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Can't vouch for calls, but I used an optus pre-paid sim while overseas for an extended period and had no issues, even with no credit on the sim for a year.
Were you able to make and receive calls?
Sorry for the late reply.
No I wasn't able to make or receive calls. It cost money to make and receive calls with Optus
The only thing free with international roaming is receiving SMSes.
As in your Banks temporary SMS code for transferring funds?
From anybody.
Costs $5/day on Vodafone.
I'm pretty sure there's elaborate call forwarding schemes via Skype/VOIP providers that are much more cost effective … google it … seems to be a common question in other forums.
AFAIK, international roaming if you are on a monthly plan is free, it is with Telstra.
I've had it activated since 1997 on the same number, only thing I pay for is receiving calls from Australia, or making calls.
I don't use data roaming, far too expensive, cheaper to buy a SIM in country.
International Roaming is free for all major carriers and resellers (ie. Telstra, Vodafone, Optus, Amaysim, etc.).
Have been that way for years. (I know they used to charge $5 to $10 a month. That fee has been long gone.)
It's been free for a long time to activate roaming for most carriers and MVNOs but as soon as you make or receive calls or send SMSes, you pay through the nose. Only receiving SMSes is free, and sometimes useful for receiving confirmation codes from banks, CC providers, etc.
Hence why I said making calls or receiving them isn't free.
The OP said he was paying $10/day for a Telstra SIM, (although the only one I found in a search was Optus at $10/day), according to Telstra all their Pre-Paid SIMs are activated for International Roaming:
International Roaming is automatically activated for Telstra Pre-Paid mobile services.
When you arrive at your international destination we’ll send you an SMS to let you know the costs of mobile usage in that country, and how to cancel International roaming on your device.
So wouldn't the $20 Long Life SIM, (or other Long Life SIM from someone), work out significantly cheaper?
$20 gets you 60 days with Roaming thrown in, sure you have to pay for your calls but the OP also said he wouldn't be using the phone much, it's mainly to receive the odd call from Australia.
Get a dual SIM phone and get a local SIM for making outgoing calls and tell the caller you'll ring them back.
@4wd: No disagreement there but what I'm trying to draw attention to is that roaming is very expensive even if you just talk long enough to tell them you'll call back. Take for example Telstra and Singapore. Receiving costs $1.50/minute. So that $20 will last you a dozen such calls.
Really, whats wrong with doinga little search. Its been discusseda number of times here
Roaming with Prepaid is always an option, I know you can go on Prepaid with Optus on the Long Expiry Plan and put $60 or more on the Sim card and it will last 365 days. With a Zone 1 country like Singapore, $1 a min for making and receiving calls and $0.50 per SMS. Receiving SMS is free and Data is $0.50 per MB. If you are going for periods longer than 365 days, you just have to make sure you load $60+ every 365 days to keep the number. Just recharge it online.
Switch your number to Aldi. The first SIM will cost $5 and the credit lasts for one year.
If you get someone here to top it up before the one year expiry date it'll cost you $15 and last another year.
More than two years…I'd just forget about the number and get a new one when you return….or just put another $15 on it.
One way: Aldimobile AYG for $5 first year, $15 the second. Think a search of the forums would have found you threads with this FAQ.
mysterytal was too fast for me. ;)
PS: I think you can recharge online.
Amaysim, PAYG last for 365 days. Just remember to top up a few dollars every year.
Vodafone prepaid 365+
$2 sim
$10 recharge. Last 1 year plus 30 days.
Go to Vodafone website in 13 months top up for another 12 months (put a reminder in your phone or something)
I'm surprised that no one has said it yet but aldi have really great long term plans @ $5 per year.
¿Qué?
Both methods use Aldimobile PAYG plans. Amaysim would be my next choice.
Get roaming enabled if you want to use anything that needs you to receive SMS messages etc. Roaming needs to be enabled a week in advance.
https://www.aldimobile.com.au/roaming/
or
Buy a cheapo phone with good standby battery.
Buy an Aldi sim
Leave your phone with a relative who would not lose it and tell them to keep ii electrically charged. This relative needs to be able to figure out how to find SMS messages if needed. They may also be expected to load this with credit after 350 days or so.
Yep. As already mentioned above porting out is your best option. Have a look what's going to give you the best $$ vs time value. (Looks to be ALDI mobile) and you're good to go. When you return port it back to where you want it!
Hi all! Hope you can help me out with my question. So basically I am moving out of AUS and will stay overseas indefinitely. I will be getting a local number when I set myself up and I am thinking on keeping the number . Does anyone know a good and cheap prepaid 365 days sim plan for just holding the number? I won't be using the sim overseas. I had a look around and it looks like Vodafone 365 days plan for $30 seems to be the best. Doesn't really care what do I get with it and I can recharge it online from overseas. Link: https://www.vodafone.com.au/prepaid/plans
Aldi mobile $5
Hi all,
Im looking for a 365 day plan just to keep a phone number active. The phone does not get used for any calls currently.
Which is the cheapest. Still Vodafone 365 day?
aldi $5
Hi,
I'm planing on spending quite some time overseas. I need to find a cheap, long expiry sim card as I won't use it for anything but receiving sms messages like confirmation from bank.
Any idea what is the best option?
Thanks
aldimobile $5 1st year
Just came back from Europe and used simdirect.
No complaints, work quite well overseas.
just remember to insert sim and restart mobile to activate the data plan.
Not what OP is after.
He wants his AU SIM on a long expiry plan that is able to receive SMS while he's overseas.
I might be a tad late, but I'm in a very similar situation to you and I've been using $2 Amaysim starter kits which last 365 days and do not need credit/recharge to be activated.
The $2 SIM itself has no credit - you're literally paying for a blank SIM. There is roaming enabled.
Last time I tried this with a few months ago, so if things haven't changed, it should still be cheapest.
Thanks illumination, I was looking into this too. So Amaysim allows free international roaming in most countries (which country did you try receiving SMS in)? I thought it was just ALDImobile as suggested by another Ozbargainer. I'm looking to receive SMS OTPs when I travel to Japan/SE Asia for work and leisure.
I live in Singapore so I mostly use it in Singapore, but have also received SMS OTPs while in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and I think Vietnam?
Also read someone else mentioning that Telstra $2 SIMs can be activated without credit/recharge and I'm very confident Telstra have roaming.
Also read someone else mentioning that Telstra $2 SIMs can be activated without credit/recharge and I'm very confident Telstra have roaming.
Just activated a $2 Telstra SIM and can confirm that it was able to be activated on their "long life" prepaid plan without any recharge.
Hi there, I've recently purchased an Amaysim and will activate it on the long expiry 365 day prepaid plan. However on the Amaysim website it says it's only for use in Australia. How can I be sure I can receive OTP verification SMS codes when I'm overseas? Looks like it wouldn't work according to their terms…
Well you can't make/receive phone calls or send SMS using this Amaysim when overseas, but you can receive, which is the only thing you really need for OTPs.
Also ensure "International Roaming" is turned on in settings.
Will be going overseas long term - 1 year+
Anyone know some good cheap SIM plans I can switch to before I leave so I can at least receive text messages/verification codes overseas? (Do I need roaming for that? I'm not too familiar with how roaming works)
Thanks
Usually cheaper to buy at your destination, than buy in Australia.
You also have an ambiguous location…
I want to be able to receive texts on my Australian number. For example, banking verifications
aldi sim $5 starter 1st year , $15 reload 365 days
supports international roaming
@dcep: thanks for the heads up, I didn't realise the aldi sim's roamed
edit: looks like app won't work overseas for recharge, but webpage will https://www.aldimobile.com.au/pages/roaming
Get a overseas sim then, update your bank details.
Anyone know some good cheap SIM plans I can switch to before I leave so I can at least receive text messages/verification codes overseas? (Do I need roaming for that? I'm not too familiar with how roaming works)
Yes you will need roaming on your Australian SIM
Vodaphone 50 Pay n Go - Check your country is listed to receive service. Free to receive SMS
amaysim PAYG $10 should last 1 year then renew on the 1gb plan
Not cheap and terrible support but Boost $200/year allows international Voice over WiFi and SMS over WiFi.
Hello Everyone,
Currently have the situation where I need to go overseas, and would like to continue to receive SMS's whilst overseas.
This is mainly for Banking / ATO, etc, and will only be received for receiving, not sending.
What longer-term (6 months +) options are available, as it looks like Telstra / Boost prepaid no longer offer this, and Amaysim does, but only for limited countries.
Would also be great if it can be recharged in 6 months, to continue using it, and NOT lose the phone number.
Thanks.
There are apps that will forward SMS to email etc. that might be part of the answer (assuming it is stuff like entering 2FA numbers).
Cheap ongoing plan with SMS's free to receive + dual SIM phone?
Aldi would be the go to. Credit has a 365 day expiry and it is free to receive SMS whilst overseas. Just make sure you turn data off.
$10 amaysim. Free receive sms when roaming
Hi, currently in situation of being a stranded Aussie. I needed exactly what you asking about. OPTUS was my saviour! When Telstra stopped supporting o/seas texts in October 2020 (1 year ago).
I bought an OPTUS prepaid SIM, and $30 credit gives me 6 months (180 days) of service, and if recharged before the end of 180 days I get to keep the $30 credit.
You can set auto recharge (mine auto recharges tomorrow actually!) and I will then have $60 credit to use in Australia when I get back. I have a local SIM card where I am OPTUS was the one to give me international texts I need for govt and banking.
That SIM card in an old phone and perfect for what specified.
Best of luck.
OH NO! I'm so sorry - I've just looked at Optus to get a link to the plan and see that it's no longer available. Hopefully one of the other options here works for you. Am grateful I on this 'legacy' plan .
Thanks anyways, sounds exactly what I need, as then it can keep on being recharged whilst away.
Hi again, I've just been looking and found this:
Seems a good deal as uses OPTUS network.
$99 for 1st year - and then $120 per year .
https://www.amaysim.com.au/plans/long-expiry-plans/unlimited…
Then you can look up the countries you going to here:
https://www.amaysim.com.au/plans/mobile-plans/international/…
Put in the country (they list the most popular ones but type in where you going) and it looks like Receiving texts is free.
I don't think you need to 'add' credit to activate the international roaming, but you will need to 'add' credit if you wish to use it for eg. sending text (eg. $1 per text - you can see the rates once you type in the country).
So it seems that this is perfect for receiving texts and $99 for first 12 months. Let me know it that useful. Again, best of luck.
Since you’re overseas, I just wonder if VoLTE/Wifi calling still work?
Optus Flex Esim or Sim.
Pay 1$ for one day - then cancel the subscription.
Recharge 1$ every 6 months - your line stays active to receive sms.
Been using that since it has been released on the market and it works very well.
Cost - 2$ a year to maintain an Australian phone number.
OMG really? You've been doing this from overseas? That's totally brilliant bargain. Genius!!
This sounds good too to be true, but is exactly what I need.
How do I 'Turn off' the auto recharge once it's set up / ported, so that I'm paying the second $1 after six months, and not on day two?
You manage the plan directly via the Optus app.
Just click on cancel on day 2 - your card will not be charged and the number stays active for 6 months.
Create a reminder in your calendar to recharge in 6 months.
The Optus app tells you how many days you have left before losing the number.
Rinse and repeat.
You can receive SMS but not send or call as your line is 'restricted'. You can remove the restriction by topping up your account by 1$ for a day. Works well.
@parisian: is this optus flex esim plan price gone up to $2 per day now?
so still the same thing, that pay $2 on the first day then cancel it => recharge every 6 month or keep?
I would buy a local sim card(physical) to use in overseas and a optus $2 esim to receive SMS with roaming turned on, is this correct?
Thanks!
@charliechao: just replying myself that seems the $2 per day is the 5G service which doesn't support international SMS.
the $1 per day 4G service which is not excluding so I will assume that would allow us to receive sms in overseas.
@charliechao: your correct - 2 differents plans - the 5G one is useless.
Correct - i dont have an active subscription and i can receive sms overseas (tried in UAE, France, Spain).
@qaharrison: Optus prepaid plans - click on Flex, then 4g. Scroll to the left to see $1/day.
https://www.optus.com.au/prepaid/plans/flex then click 4G
@parisian: hi mate, how do you cancel the sim? I can't find the "cancel? button in the app. or if we do not recharge/top up the number should just stay there but inactive after 1 day?
So its a dollar for every day you're overseas to receive text doesnt sound cheap unless you are saying text are still received after you cancel the subscription?
Can you forward sms that you would have received to the flex plan number automatically or do you have advise of your new number to every sender which would be a real pain?
one dollar for one day then cancel the automatic recharge: the number stays active for 6 months. no restrictions to receiving SMS.
and repeat the process every 6 months.
With an esim it's great.
you would just port out your existing number to Optus under their new offer 'Flex'.
It's a great prepaid plan - and when you are back in Australia, recharge 30$ or change providers for your stay and then back to Optus flex for overseas travel.
@parisian: Can you receive SMSs overseas without having to pay for additional international roaming? Likewise can you receive calls overseas?
How does diverting to voicemail work, e.g. if you have divert to voicemail if no answer, do you get charged for the diversion and how can you get that voicemail while overseas?
@bobo12345: Yes for SMS
Unsure for calls - I believe it would go to your voicemail directly and you would receive an sms lettting you know you have one message to listen to
Does it matter which country you are in? I'm moving to Nicaragua in Central America to live permanently and need to receive bank security codes via SMS. I've talked to different providers and they all say different things. It's a bit nerve wrecking as currently all of our funds are still in Australian banks. I talked to Optus about this and they say it works - but the plan they say it works on is their new flex $180 prepaid for 365 days (down to $150 online) and you will receive free texts while overseas. Like you I don't need to make calls or send texts - it's literally to just receive these darn codes!
https://www.optus.com.au/mobile/plans/international-roaming/…
Nicaragua is not supported unfortunately for prepaid so Optus flex will not work.
@parisian: So weird - they have told me it will… and that I don't need roaming… I know people in Nica receiving them, but they are on different plans now? It's a bit stressful I keep getting told different things… Thanks for getting back to me.
@qaharrison: They're probably on post-paid plans. You could port your number to a VoIP provider like Crazytel that will convert SMSs to email or deliver them via SIP. A virtual mobile number works out slightly cheaper on their Crazy DID Saver Whirlpool offer assuming that is still available. Alternatively, set up your own hardware solution if you can leave the SIM here and have somewhere to host the hardware. For SMS to email forwarding that could just be a phone left permanently on charge and connected on a friend's/relative's WiFi network running a suitable app. Or you could just move your funds to a bank that doesn't use SMS authentication if you would otherwise don't need to receive SMSs when you're out of the country.
@qaharrison: I would suggest either Telstra Prepaid / Boost or a telstra post paid account
.
It allows you to use voWIFI overseas and receive SMS and calls for free while connected to the internet. You can then call back Australia and send SMS and MMS for free.
This only works if you have a device that support Telstra VOWIFI.
Buy a 1y recharge on Boost or Telstra and that should work.
What I usually do is keep my Boost sim card in my iphone and use an e-sim to have 3/4/5G internet access. This way, I can receive/place calls and talk via SMS when Telstra can see my device online overseas. Works very well.
Hello, is this still working for you guys? I'm overseas and got the $1 prepaid sim.. However have not recieved a single sms.. Optus are telling me I need to buy a data package for it to work? :/
Check that the roaming toggle is on in the Optus App.
For some reason - sometimes it's off, sometimes it's on…
@parisian: Hi mate thanks for your reply! It was off but been on now for a week or two.. no messages. Frustrating because I cancelled my Telstra plan..
Technically Boost should still work - over WiFi as they have VoWifi. so as long as you/the phone is connected to wifi, you should be able to make calls / receive / send sms
Yes boost and telstra prepaid have wifi calls overseas.
incredibly convenient and work very well.
Used in NZ, UAE, UK and inflight.
You have any idea about Optus prepaid Wifi calling overseas?
@hashtagbargain: few months ago I used VPN to get a US IP while being in Australia. Wifi calling still worked so maybe that's not the solution.
@hawkeye93: Ah interesting. About 2 years ago I had to get onto an oz vpn to have it work for me when I travelled. Things could have changed since, cheers.
Boost did not work with VoWifi for me on a recent trip - not the counties you mention though.
@Huntz: I contacted the Boost support and they confirm that until Boost has international roaming again, the Wi-fi Calls feature is unlikely to work overseas.
So, my plan is to sign up for a Skype call for a month while I am having a holiday and forward the calls to Skype number.
Merged from Moving Overseas - Want to Keep Number and Use Internationally
Hi all,
I'm moving to Singapore soon, and I'd like some advice as to how to keep my existing Australian phone number.